Break a Sweat: Seven of the Best Fitness Retreats in the World

Ditch the dusty dumbbells, grab your passport and head out to one of these great fitness resorts: no experience required.

29 April, 2022

Words by
Alice Mason and Grace Lee



If
you’re anything like us, you’ll have added “get fit” in big,
bright, bold letters to your list of new year’s resolutions this
year. After almost two years of intermittent lockdowns, even the
most sluggish among us have started tapping our toes beneath our
desks. In short, we’ve got itchy feet, and we’re ready to shake out
a limb or two.

For some, a fitness retreat may sound like a daunting prospect.
Will I be surrounded by gym junkies? Will I keep up? Do my
leggings still fit me? The reality, though, is that a workout
weekend away at one of these fitness destinations is a relatively
straightforward affair: turn up, put some welly into it, and the
rest is taken care of: think bespoke meal plans, meticulous
itineraries and (healthy) room service on tap. What’s not to
love?

Whether you’re in the market to lose weight, build strength or
just binge on post-workout endorphins, these seven fitness retreats
are sure to get your heart racing.

From couch potato to workout wonder: the best fitness retreats
to book right now


hotel

PACE at The Peligoni Club

best for: a spring reset

It’s no secret that certain buzzwords surrounding the world of
fitness can be fear-inducing. We are encouraged to “supercharge”
our routines or “turbo-boost” our fitness levels, yet all too often
this pressure can have the opposite effect on our minds and bodies.
Thankfully, the Zakynthos-based Peligoni Club is breaking away from
this jargon-filled nonsense with its first-ever fitness retreat,
PACE – a “does what it says on the tin”, self-paced
fitness retreat for all levels. Featuring guest instructors
including Sir Chris Hoy, Rob da Bank and Rose Ferguson, the
five-day event will offer an invigorating programme of both fast-
and slow-paced activities – think morning cycle rides with Hoy,
daily beach runs and Core Collective classes, plus sunset yoga,
crystal healing, a sleep retreat, breathwork and ice baths with a
certified Wim Hof instructor.

Dates: 23-27th May 2022

Address

Agios Nikolaos, Volimes, Ag. Nikolaos 290 91, Greece

020 8740 3001
Go to website


hotel

Optimal Fitness & Energy at Marbella Club Hotel, Spain

Best for: an all-round kick-start

A well-established big player in the wellbeing game, Marbella Club Hotel is known for its strong roster of curated wellbeing experiences and retreats. This particular one is offered over either a two-, four- or seven-night stay and includes a lifestyle and nutrition consultation, at least two personal training sessions, a fitness consultation and an intensive sports massage, all designed to leave you feeling boosted both mentally and physically.

Address

Av Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Marbella 29602, Spain

+34 952 822 211
Go to website


hotel

Sayanna Active Escape at Epic Sana, Portugal

Best for: improving fitness habits

The antithesis to your classic bootcamp-style retreat, Epic Sana’s approach sees clients learning to appreciate a healthier lifestyle and develop a positive attitude towards staying in shape. An Active Escape stay at this beachside Algarve hangout will set you up with a new mindset towards fitness, and includes a pre-training fitness evaluation, six hours of varied training sessions and free access to spa facilities (including a complimentary massage), all geared towards cultivating lasting healthy habits.

Address

Pinhal do Concelho, Praia da Falésia, Albufeira 8200-593, Portugal

+351 212 468 688
Go to website


hotel

Fitness Week at Rancho La Puerta, Mexico

Best for: outdoor pursuits

You’d be hard-pushed to find more blissful surroundings for a fitness retreat than those at Rancho La Puerta. Surrounded by 1,620 hectares of landscaped gardens and farmland, the ranch is an idyllic place for getting back into your body and out into nature. Taking a holistic approach to wellness rather than being solely fitness-driven, this Mexican bolthole’s Fitness Week offers guests guided meditation and mindfulness classes, sound healing, daily guided sunrise mountain hikes and 30 daily fitness classes, including HIIT, yoga and dance. Plus, you’ll have access to all pools and spa facilities during your stay. Hot tub, anyone?

Address

Carretera Mexicali-Tijuana, Tecate 21520, Mexico

+1 800 443 7565
Go to website


hotel

Helios Fitness & Yoga Retreat, Mykonos

best for: holistic health gurus

This health retreat is a pretty great balance of fitness and wellbeing, particularly for those who like running laps as much as taking naps (we mean shavasana – it still counts as exercise, apparently) Meals are prepared by practised chefs and served before 5PM with an aim to aid sleep and digestion. Afternoons are generally spent relaxing by the infinity pool, but this is not as idle as you might think – it comes after early morning of hill sprints. With an intricate itinerary planned out for you, all you have to do is choose which retreat you’ll be sweating it out in; we’re looking at you Mykonos.

Address

Zinas Villas
Kastro
Mykonos
84600

N/A

Go to website


hotel

Training Places, Spain

best for: a head-to-toe bootcamp

Perched on the hills of S’Estanyol this suave and modern villa boasts a fully equipped rooftop gym, private pool and panoramic views of Ibiza and Talamanca beach. Here, your daily schedule is as comprehensive as the villas’ amenities. Bespoke training packages customise each aspect of your retreat to match your personal requirements and fitness levels. After your day-long sweat sessions, the retreat’s rooftop cinema will feel like the most heavenly reward before you repeat your arduous but invigorating routine again the next morning.

Address

Carrer de Talamanca
Ibiza

N/A

Go to website


hotel

Fitness and Exercise at Lime Wood

best for: a tailored fitness plan

The Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire knows how to catch our attention. With a focus on sculpting better bodies, we love the the hotel’s fitness and exercise offering for its appealing amount of flexibility: you can craft your very own bespoke training plan alongside the hotel’s five motivated personal trainers. Less a retreat, more a staycation with a (big or small) handful of workouts thrown in to boot.

Address

Beaulieu Rd
Hampshire
SO43 7FZ

+44 2380 287 167
Go to website


hotel

BodyAware Programme at Body Holiday, St Lucia

best for: zen

Like Ronseal, Body Holiday does exactly what it says on the tin. To start, the menu is cleansing but delicious. Plus, there’s finally the time to relax, unwind and switch off that phone. Set in a colonial villa opposite the main Body Holiday resort, Villa Firefly offers guests a calm oasis to switch off and tune in to your body. There’s a handful of guest retreats at Body Holiday throughout the season, but we’ve earmarked the BodyAware programme, which can last either four or seven days, and includes a nutrition and lifestyle consultation, BodyStats assessment and an exercise programme personalised to you. Prepare for an onslaught of zen.

Address

Cariblue Beach
Castries City
Saint Lucia

+1 758 457 7800
Go to website

This article was updated on 29 April 2022.

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